Originally Posted by
Sunfish
Problem A:
In my limited experience with sharing untowered CTAF airspace with RPT, the procedure seemed to be that the PNF monitors the CTAF and then established two way comms with me.
.Isn't it possible to mandate a listening watch and enough broadcast calls to preclude an unannounced arrival or departure?
That is generally the case. A eagle eyed FO with me picked up an issue not that long ago, we sat in the step above the CTAF, very close might I add, he picked up a 206 which soon busted airspace ahead of us. They didn’t obviously have approach on frequency as they couldn’t get hold of them. Just shows how fast it can go pear shaped, very important to keep tabs on that frequency.
Not sure what Virgin’s SOPs are. Was a CASA briefing put up on YouTube a few months ago around this issue, it was presented partly by Ben from Virgin fleet training. A scenario was raised by another pilot in which they had a similar communication issue with one of his aircraft on the frequency.